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To change or not to change
Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2025 9:35 pm
by Monymony
What do we think the coaches (on both sides) are going to do differently this week. Do they trust what they have and stick to their style or do they change their last game plan to surprise the opposing team (such as Wortham at wildcat more often).
Re: To change or not to change
Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2025 9:37 pm
by Cataholic
I hope they play him at Wildcat more. He was ineffective against our defense. We played him perfectly.
Re: To change or not to change
Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2025 9:43 pm
by BlueAndGoldNation
Cataholic wrote: ↑Tue Dec 16, 2025 9:37 pm
I hope they play him at Wildcat more. He was ineffective against our defense. We played him perfectly.
Wortham at QB for 4 snaps during the game is probably good for 3 bad or non factor plays, and 1 explosive. I bet they do show it more than once, and it will likely get an effective outcome at some point. He is a good player. I realistically expect him to be more of a factor than last time. I just don't think he'll take over like he did against USD
Re: To change or not to change
Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2025 11:30 pm
by catscat
Bobcats will not change much other than cleaning up some errors from last time. gris will have to make massive changes just to stay in the game
Re: To change or not to change
Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2025 11:51 pm
by Cataholic
BlueAndGoldNation wrote: ↑Tue Dec 16, 2025 9:43 pm
Cataholic wrote: ↑Tue Dec 16, 2025 9:37 pm
I hope they play him at Wildcat more. He was ineffective against our defense. We played him perfectly.
Wortham at QB for 4 snaps during the game is probably good for 3 bad or non factor plays, and 1 explosive. I bet they do show it more than once, and it will likely get an effective outcome at some point. He is a good player. I realistically expect him to be more of a factor than last time. I just don't think he'll take over like he did against USD
I am also buying a lotto ticket tomorrow and have a chance to win $1.25 Billion. I joke and know Wortham is explosive, but if their game plan is to run Wortham in the Wildcat more, they are going to get creamed. Our defense played him perfectly and contained him all game. I see zero reason for that to change.
Re: To change or not to change
Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2025 11:57 pm
by carvs12
Only thing the Cats might need to change is play better coverage on the receivers other than that run the damn ball set the tone and when they pack the box throw it over their heads. We the fans can do the rest said this earlier to some friends the griz have played 4 road games without having to go silent count they will this week and I think this makes a huge difference in how they have to operate say not as much motion or check with ME's at the line of scrimmage. Anyway lets be loud and crazy every down they have the ball !! Go Cats Go !!!
Re: To change or not to change
Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2025 7:38 am
by RyeCat
Different snap or silent count? Please for the love of gawd.
Re: To change or not to change
Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2025 8:00 am
by rfischer94
carvs12 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 16, 2025 11:57 pm
Only thing the Cats might need to change is play better coverage on the receivers other than that run the damn ball set the tone and when they pack the box throw it over their heads. We the fans can do the rest said this earlier to some friends the griz have played 4 road games without having to go silent count they will this week and I think this makes a huge difference in how they have to operate say not as much motion or check with ME's at the line of scrimmage. Anyway lets be loud and crazy every down they have the ball !! Go Cats Go !!!
What's an ME?
Re: To change or not to change
Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2025 8:05 am
by TomCat88
If they change anything for Wortham I'd guess it's giving him more carries. That's been his most effective element. In 2 games vs MSU he has 5 carries for 127 yards, including a 75-yard TD run with EWU and a 35-yard run with UM. He also has a 5-yard rush TD vs MSU and a 17-yard run with EWU.
He has 4 catches for 9 yards, 8 KO returns for 197 (24.7 avg) yards and 2 fumbles, lost 1.
I don't think they should change much. They had one of the two most successful offenses vs MSU (along with SFA).
Their drive chart vs MSU:
6-54 TD
11-34 Punt
3- -13 Punt
10-72 TD
16-81 TD
3-6 INT (td)
7-36 Blkd FG
5-83 TD
4 TDs, 1 Blkd FG, 2 punts, 1 TO (5 scoring opportunities in 8 possessions); 60 plays, 364 yards
SFA:
8-19 Fumble
5-37 INT
5-12 Punt
6-4 Punt
1-3 Fumble
6-75 TD
14-76 TD
3-0 Punt
8-87 TD
12-77 TD
4- -13 Downs
4 TDs, 3 punts, 3 TOs, 1 Downs (4 scoring opportunities in 11 possessions); 72 plays, 344 yards
This favors UM slightly, but considering they were at home and SFA was away it's fairly even.
Re: To change or not to change
Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2025 8:06 am
by cats2506
rfischer94 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 17, 2025 8:00 am
carvs12 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 16, 2025 11:57 pm
Only thing the Cats might need to change is play better coverage on the receivers other than that run the damn ball set the tone and when they pack the box throw it over their heads. We the fans can do the rest said this earlier to some friends the griz have played 4 road games without having to go silent count they will this week and I think this makes a huge difference in how they have to operate say not as much motion or check with ME's at the line of scrimmage. Anyway lets be loud and crazy every down they have the ball !! Go Cats Go !!!
What's an ME?
"check with ME" look to sideline for audibles
Re: To change or not to change
Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2025 8:06 am
by BOBCATBORN
rfischer94 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 17, 2025 8:00 am
carvs12 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 16, 2025 11:57 pm
Only thing the Cats might need to change is play better coverage on the receivers other than that run the damn ball set the tone and when they pack the box throw it over their heads. We the fans can do the rest said this earlier to some friends the griz have played 4 road games without having to go silent count they will this week and I think this makes a huge difference in how they have to operate say not as much motion or check with ME's at the line of scrimmage. Anyway lets be loud and crazy every down they have the ball !! Go Cats Go !!!
What's an ME?
Mechanical engineers that Bobby decided to bring on staff to engineer ways to move the ball.
Re: To change or not to change
Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2025 8:41 am
by rfischer94
BOBCATBORN wrote: ↑Wed Dec 17, 2025 8:06 am
rfischer94 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 17, 2025 8:00 am
carvs12 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 16, 2025 11:57 pm
Only thing the Cats might need to change is play better coverage on the receivers other than that run the damn ball set the tone and when they pack the box throw it over their heads. We the fans can do the rest said this earlier to some friends the griz have played 4 road games without having to go silent count they will this week and I think this makes a huge difference in how they have to operate say not as much motion or check with ME's at the line of scrimmage. Anyway lets be loud and crazy every down they have the ball !! Go Cats Go !!!
What's an ME?
Mechanical engineers that Bobby decided to bring on staff to engineer ways to move the ball.
Re: To change or not to change
Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2025 8:49 am
by GoldstoneCat
It was pretty evident the first game that the Griz knew they were overmatched with their o-line. They did a nice job of working around it, largely by running a horizontal offense. Sweeps, misdirection, and spitting the ball out to the first read outside. I assume the Cats will be coached up hard about eye discipline this week on the horizontal stuff. I fully expect montana to try to get more explosive vertically in this game, especially early on.
I think the Cats are going to work really hard to create extra gaps in the run game, using multiple TEs and shifts to give them more gaps to defend/ guess on in the run game. And they will certainly be hunting some vertical explosives of their own. Lamson was very efficient in Missoula, surgical almost, but there were 3-4 just huge explosive pass plays that were schemed open and missed, including one on the last drive that would have killed this "3 point game, lucky to win" narrative.
Bottom line is that the Griz are not equipped to win a 4 quarter, back and forth battle with us. Their path to winning is to jump ahead and stay ahead, get us feeling the pressure of a restless home crowd and make us one-dimensional. So i expect shot plays early, trick plays, their best stuff on special teams, etc. Conversely if we can get them down early the opportunity to just boat race them, because of the crowd, starts to get real.
Re: To change or not to change
Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2025 9:43 am
by catscat
rfischer94 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 17, 2025 8:41 am
BOBCATBORN wrote: ↑Wed Dec 17, 2025 8:06 am
rfischer94 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 17, 2025 8:00 am
carvs12 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 16, 2025 11:57 pm
Only thing the Cats might need to change is play better coverage on the receivers other than that run the damn ball set the tone and when they pack the box throw it over their heads. We the fans can do the rest said this earlier to some friends the griz have played 4 road games without having to go silent count they will this week and I think this makes a huge difference in how they have to operate say not as much motion or check with ME's at the line of scrimmage. Anyway lets be loud and crazy every down they have the ball !! Go Cats Go !!!
What's an ME?
Mechanical engineers that Bobby decided to bring on staff to engineer ways to move the ball.
Where did dUMb find a mechanical engineer?
Re: To change or not to change
Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2025 9:46 am
by iaafan
TomCat88 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 17, 2025 8:05 am
If they change anything for Wortham I'd guess it's giving him more carries. That's been his most effective element. In 2 games vs MSU he has 5 carries for 127 yards, including a 75-yard TD run with EWU and a 35-yard run with UM. He also has a 5-yard rush TD vs MSU and a 17-yard run with EWU.
He has 4 catches for 9 yards, 8 KO returns for 197 (24.7 avg) yards and 2 fumbles, lost 1.
I don't think they should change much. They had one of the two most successful offenses vs MSU (along with SFA).
Their drive chart vs MSU:
6-54 TD
11-34 Punt
3- -13 Punt
10-72 TD
16-81 TD
3-6 INT (td)
7-36 Blkd FG
5-83 TD
4 TDs, 1 Blkd FG, 2 punts, 1 TO (5 scoring opportunities in 8 possessions); 60 plays, 364 yards
SFA:
8-19 Fumble
5-37 INT
5-12 Punt
6-4 Punt
1-3 Fumble
6-75 TD
14-76 TD
3-0 Punt
8-87 TD
12-77 TD
4- -13 Downs
4 TDs, 3 punts, 3 TOs, 1 Downs (4 scoring opportunities in 11 possessions); 72 plays, 344 yards
This favors UM slightly, but considering they were at home and SFA was away it's fairly even.
What would this look like if Gillman is flagged for facemask? How would people think about this upcoming game if that call is make and um is out on downs?
Re: To change or not to change
Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2025 9:49 am
by Catsrgrood
GoldstoneCat wrote: ↑Wed Dec 17, 2025 8:49 am
It was pretty evident the first game that the Griz knew they were overmatched with their o-line. They did a nice job of working around it, largely by running a horizontal offense. Sweeps, misdirection, and spitting the ball out to the first read outside. I assume the Cats will be coached up hard about eye discipline this week on the horizontal stuff. I fully expect montana to try to get more explosive vertically in this game, especially early on.
I think the Cats are going to work really hard to create extra gaps in the run game, using multiple TEs and shifts to give them more gaps to defend/ guess on in the run game. And they will certainly be hunting some vertical explosives of their own. Lamson was very efficient in Missoula, surgical almost, but there were 3-4 just huge explosive pass plays that were schemed open and missed, including one on the last drive that would have killed this "3 point game, lucky to win" narrative.
Bottom line is that the Griz are not equipped to win a 4 quarter, back and forth battle with us. Their path to winning is to jump ahead and stay ahead, get us feeling the pressure of a restless home crowd and make us one-dimensional. So i expect shot plays early, trick plays, their best stuff on special teams, etc. Conversely if we can get them down early the opportunity to just boat race them, because of the crowd, starts to get real.
This is as good of a breakdown as I’ve seen.
I agree their plan was clearly to spread us out, get the ball in the hands of the playmakers on the outside and see if they can make something happen. They knew they had to get it out quick and they did just that.
It largely worked, they scored 28. But it didn’t result in a win. I’d expect them to take a few more shots this game, while keeping the overall gameplan similar.
If they get down by a couple scores early, they’re in trouble.
If they’re in a back and forth close game they know they’re probably in trouble and can’t keep it up for 4 quarters on the road.
Their best shot is to get an early lead and quiet the crowd. The 1st quarter is going to be huge, it won’t be won or lost in that quarter but it should give us a very good idea of how this game will likely go.
Re: To change or not to change
Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2025 9:58 am
by wbtfg
Monymony wrote: ↑Tue Dec 16, 2025 9:35 pm
What do we think the coaches (on both sides) are going to do differently this week. Do they trust what they have and stick to their style or do they change their last game plan to surprise the opposing team (such as Wortham at wildcat more often).
I don't think we make any major changes. We might add a few wrinkles here or there, but at this point in the season, we are who we are. Defensively, we need to win the line of scrimmage, keep everything in front of us to not give up an explosive play, and we need to tackle better.
Offensively, we need to win the line of scrimmage, establish a run game, and pass efficiently. Beyond that, I think we missed 2-3 wide open explosives last time, so that might be a point of emphasis?
Overall, we need to set the tone that we are the more physical team. We need to go out there with the mindset that we are the bullies on the block, and punish them on every play.
Re: To change or not to change
Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2025 10:03 am
by iaafan
wbtfg wrote: ↑Wed Dec 17, 2025 9:58 am
Monymony wrote: ↑Tue Dec 16, 2025 9:35 pm
What do we think the coaches (on both sides) are going to do differently this week. Do they trust what they have and stick to their style or do they change their last game plan to surprise the opposing team (such as Wortham at wildcat more often).
I don't think we make any major changes. We might add a few wrinkles here or there, but at this point in the season, we are who we are. Defensively, we need to win the line of scrimmage, keep everything in front of us to not give up an explosive play, and we need to tackle better.
Offensively, we need to win the line of scrimmage, establish a run game, and pass efficiently. Beyond that, I think we missed 2-3 wide open explosives last time, so that might be a point of emphasis?
Overall, we need to set the tone that we are the more physical team. We need to go out there with the mindset that we are the bullies on the block, and punish them on every play.
My thoughts exactly.
Re: To change or not to change
Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2025 10:08 am
by BOBCATBORN
catscat wrote: ↑Wed Dec 17, 2025 9:43 am
rfischer94 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 17, 2025 8:41 am
BOBCATBORN wrote: ↑Wed Dec 17, 2025 8:06 am
rfischer94 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 17, 2025 8:00 am
carvs12 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 16, 2025 11:57 pm
Only thing the Cats might need to change is play better coverage on the receivers other than that run the damn ball set the tone and when they pack the box throw it over their heads. We the fans can do the rest said this earlier to some friends the griz have played 4 road games without having to go silent count they will this week and I think this makes a huge difference in how they have to operate say not as much motion or check with ME's at the line of scrimmage. Anyway lets be loud and crazy every down they have the ball !! Go Cats Go !!!
What's an ME?
Mechanical engineers that Bobby decided to bring on staff to engineer ways to move the ball.
Where did dUMb find a mechanical engineer?
Well definitely not from Missoula College of Arts. I think they purchased from
www.mechanicalengineers-R-US.com. Sounds like its a spin-off from toys-r-us. I'm sure it will work out for Bobby. They are also reportedly scheming to handle Troy Andersen in the game as well (can never be too careful).
Re: To change or not to change
Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2025 10:12 am
by AFCAT
cats2506 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 17, 2025 8:06 am
rfischer94 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 17, 2025 8:00 am
carvs12 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 16, 2025 11:57 pm
Only thing the Cats might need to change is play better coverage on the receivers other than that run the damn ball set the tone and when they pack the box throw it over their heads. We the fans can do the rest said this earlier to some friends the griz have played 4 road games without having to go silent count they will this week and I think this makes a huge difference in how they have to operate say not as much motion or check with ME's at the line of scrimmage. Anyway lets be loud and crazy every down they have the ball !! Go Cats Go !!!
What's an ME?
"check with ME" look to sideline for audibles
Did you catch when the Cats did that against SFA, on a short yardage play, and then immediately snapped the ball and made the yardage to gain? You can see the SFA linebackers relax when Lamson looked to the sidelines and then the Cats immediately snapped the ball.